In the world of visitor attractions, from the thrilling heights of amusement parks to the luxury of cruise ships and the ever-evolving immersive worlds of experiential installations, one element remains constant: the desire to capture and keep precious personal memories and souvenirs of special experiences. Photography and photo printing have provided this physical format for generations; read on to learn more about why photo printing endures where other technologies are succeeded.
For many operators, offering photo printing services enhances the visitor experience and opens up significant upselling opportunities. Citizen Systems Europe, with its market-leading, ultra-reliable range of dye sublimation, (dye-sub) photo printers, provides the perfect solution for attractions looking to capitalise on this constant trend, providing high-quality print solutions to a global market.
In today's digitally dominant age, where smartphones are omnipresent, the physical photograph provides a distinctive and nostalgic value that digital images inherently lack. Travellers and visitors to attractions are constantly seeking ways to immortalise their experiences, and printed photos offer a tangible, enduring keepsake. This sentimentality is something operators can leverage to enhance their service offerings.
Citizen has developed a range of photo printers designed to meet the specific needs of the attractions market with printers that are not only reliable and fast but also deliver high-quality prints that can turn moments into cherished memories.
Amusement parks are synonymous with excitement and fun. From thrilling roller coasters to themed photo booths, these parks offer countless photo opportunities for a global audience of thrill-seekers across the globe. Incorporating photo printing services can significantly enhance the visitor experience while also providing a perfect, high-margin sales opportunity for the operator.
Strategically placing photo printing stations at key locations around the park can boost customer engagement and profits. For example, capturing the exhilaration of a roller coaster or 'splash-down' ride with an automated on-ride photo system and having prints available for purchase immediately upon exit creates an instant connection. Additionally, themed photo booths scattered throughout the park offer guests fun and interactive ways to document their visit, capturing memories as they go.
Both Citizen’s CX-02 and CY-02 photo printers are perfect partners for such applications. Their compact frames, powerful performance, and high-quality output make them ideal for photo stations in busy environments like theme parks. The CX-02’s compact frame and lab-quality photo prints, (in just 8 seconds) make for a seamless customer experience, while the CY-02’s large media capacity and focus on ease of use are crucial in applications where infrequent media replenishment is a priority. Staff can quickly and effortlessly change media, allowing them to focus more on customer service and less on printer maintenance.
Incorporating the CX-02 or CY-02 into the park’s photo booths or ride exits ensures visitors receive high-quality prints quickly, turning fleeting moments into lasting memories. This adds to the overall guest experience and provides a lucrative sales opportunity for the park—combining convenience, engagement, and profitability in a seamless package.
Examples of successful Citizen photo printer installations in this sector include the mighty Europa Park and Rulantica in Rust, Germany. These sister theme parks include twenty themed areas, more than one hundred rides, numerous shows, and fourteen roller coasters! The sites are facilitated by Citizen’s official Systems Integrator, Video Image GMBH, and illustrate the effective and seamless application of powerful photo solutions in the theme park arena.
Cruise ships offer a unique blend of luxury and adventure with a captive audience, making them prime locations for photo printing services. Passengers often participate in a variety of activities and excursions, each of which provides a perfect photo opportunity.
Cruise operators often offer photo capture opportunities at key locations such as the main atrium, near dining areas, and at the exits of popular excursions. Special events like themed dinners, parties, and shows provide perfect opportunities for professional photographers to capture moments, which can then be printed and sold. Offering photo packages that include a mix of candid shots, posed portraits, and scenic views can significantly increase passenger spend. Offering these prints in various formats creates a spike in interest and with such demand, speed and quality of photo printing are critical.
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The Citizen CX-02 is well-suited for the diverse environments found on cruise ships. Its versatility allows it to handle different print sizes and formats, from standard 4x6 prints to larger print sizes, catering to a range of customer preferences. The CX-02’s ability to produce stunning panoramic photographs is a real show-stopper and can prove to be irresistible to potential customers in this environment. The printer’s reliability and efficiency make it an excellent choice for the constant flow of passengers looking to preserve memories from their holiday.
The CX-02’s sibling, the Citizen CX-02W is also an excellent and popular choice for this sector, thanks to its ability to produce stunning 6x8 and 8x10 inch prints, two popular sizes for on-board photography services, which create greater revenue opportunities through premium photo packages. Cruise ship photo operators tend to offer a range of photo options, from formal portraits to event photos, where larger, high-quality prints are in high demand and enhance the overall guest experience with long-lasting souvenirs. The CX-02W is the perfect choice of printer to meet these needs.
Despite its ability to handle larger prints, the CX-02W has a compact and lightweight design, which is ideal for the limited space on cruise ships. It’s also easy to use, featuring simple media loading and quick media changes, minimising downtime for staff and maximising crucial efficiency.
The Ships Photographer is a business, which exemplifies good practice in the cruise ship arena. Long-time Citizen photo partners, the company continues to adapt to the fast-changing photo industry to create products and services onboard that their customers enjoy. All with Citizen products at their core.
Experiential installations, such as interactive museums, art exhibits, pop-up experiences, and brand activations, rely heavily on visitor engagement and where photo printing plays a crucial role in engaging participants and creating lasting memories. Photo printing services in these settings can enhance the immersive experience while offering a tangible takeaway for the mass crowds that attend.
In many experiential installations, photo printing can be integrated into the interactive elements and automation of printing using RFID tags can add to the overall customer experience. For example, a digital art exhibit might allow visitors to step into a scene and have their photo taken as part of the artwork. This act can trigger a label containing an RFID tag to redeem at an on-site printing station, offering visitors a unique souvenir that doubles as a piece of art. Additionally, installations can offer customisation options, such as adding digital effects or personalised messages, further enhancing the value of the printed photo.
Experiential installations often emphasise premium experiences, and the Citizen CX-02 delivers vivid, professional-quality prints. Whether it's for branded photo booths, corporate events, or marketing activations, the sharp image quality and vibrant colours leave a lasting impression on participants, enhancing the overall event experience.
It’s a printer that offers rapid print speeds without sacrificing quality, ensuring participants receive their photos promptly. This is crucial for maintaining engagement, as attendees can immediately take home a physical memento of their experience. The CX-02’s low power consumption and high print yield also make it a cost-effective solution for events that require large volumes of prints. With easy media replacement and long-lasting consumables, it minimises downtime and keeps operations smooth.
The Citizen CZ-01 photo printer is likely the pick of the bunch for applications with limited space available. A high-quality printer for high-demand environments and offers the same, robust reliability that is inherent across the range. Its super-compact and lightweight design, (under 6KG) allows for easy integration into various compact installations and print stations.
Citizen’s trusted partners, Image Insight, operate multiple installations of this nature and have developed an enviable and international client list. These include the innovative ‘Harry Potter’s Platform 9¾’ experience, which can be found in London’s King’s Cross, and the majestic Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam, which houses an impressive collection of wax figures of celebrities from the world of music, sports, film and also figures from the golden age of Dutch history.
Upselling Opportunities: Beyond the Basic Print
As outlined in this piece, offering photo printing services to existing customers is proven to open numerous upselling opportunities. By providing a range of products and packages, operators can significantly increase revenue with high-value, high-margin products, while significantly enhancing the visitor experience.
An example of this would be the offer of photo packages or bundles that include multiple prints, digital copies, and themed/branded frames or albums. Bundling these products not only provides added value to the customer but also encourages higher overall spend during their visit.
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Custom-themed merchandise such as photo books, calendars, and posters can be created using the images captured at an attraction. These items serve as lasting reminders of the visit and make great gifts.
Furthermore, allowing your guests to personalise their photo prints with names, dates, or custom messages can significantly enhance the perceived value of any individual prints. Citizen Systems Europe’s printers support various customisation options, making it simple to offer these features.
Citizen’s photo printer range also offers a variety of bespoke laminations, without the need to switch media to achieve different print finishes. These include gloss, matt and lustre, and clever watermarking options, which are ideal for the subtle branding of prints produced in these attractions.
Citizen’s SDK (Software Development Kit) is also available, making it possible for users to achieve direct integration with professional software solutions and bespoke applications. Citizen’s direct expert integration support is also available, should it be required.
The ability to capitalise on seasonal events and holidays can also not be understated. Offering special photo printing promotions, amusement parks and other operators can offer themed photo prints with spooky backgrounds for Halloween, festive borders for Christmas, romantic photo packages for couples during Valentine’s Day experiences, or bespoke event information stamped onto each and every print. These targeted promotions can drive additional revenue and keep the offerings fresh and exciting all year round.
Integrating photo printing services into the attractions market is a win-win for both operators and visitors. For visitors, it provides a cherished keepsake that captures the essence of their experience. For operators, it represents a valuable upselling opportunity that can significantly boost revenue.
Citizen Systems Europe, with its range of high-quality, reliable photo printers, offers the perfect solution for attractions looking to enhance their offerings. Whether it's the rapid-fire environment of an amusement park, the luxurious setting of a cruise ship, or the interactive world of an experiential installation, Citizen’s printers are built to deliver unparalleled quality and reliability. By strategically incorporating photo printing services, attractions can create memorable experiences that visitors will treasure for a lifetime, while also driving profitability.
In the end, it’s all about capturing the moment and turning it into a lasting memory. With the right technology and approach, photo printing can become a cornerstone of the attractions market, delighting visitors and boosting business in equal measure.
Learn more about Citizen’s range of dye sub photo printers: www.citizen.photo